PREPARING FOR A CAREER IN LAW IN THE 21ST CENTURY
last revised. Jan. 2012
by Bryan K. Fair
Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Special Programs
The University of Alabama School of Law
Almost forty years ago, I decided I wanted to become a lawyer. I felt certain that legal
training would open many opportunities for me to serve my community and to gain economic
security for myself and my family. I believed I would have many choices for employment. I still
think law is a great career choice, and I have no regrets about choosing law over other professions.
The challenges to achieving my dream were daunting. I had no lawyers in my family to
consult and many other obstacles to overcome, including learning to read and write well, learning to
study, learning to perform on standardized tests, as well as finding ways to pay for college and law
school. Even though I knew I was behind academically because of the schools I attended and the
lack of resources in my home, I never let go of my dream and never believed anyone who suggested
that it was beyond my reach. Despite many obstacles and with the help of many teachers, family,
and friends, I was able to achieve my dream.
Since completing undergraduate school at Duke and law school at UCLA, I have worked
with a large law firm and taught legal writing and academic support classes at UCLA School of Law.
Today, I am fortunate to teach constitutional law at Alabama. I am enjoying my career in law and
recommend it as an excellent field of study. It has been very rewarding. If you choose law, I hope it
will be as rewarding for you.
One can locate many good books on legal education, and most colleges and law schools
have numerous faculty or administrators who offer advice on careers in law. The purpose of this
essay is to assist students considering a career in law by presenting some general advice, especially
for African American and other minority students who historically were excluded from legal
education and who often have limited sources of advice. Beyond this essay, the internet has opened
more ways than ever to find information on almost any subject. Many people have written about
legal education, so read broadly and carefully.
Whatever your background, I hope that some aspect of this essay might assist you. After
you have read it, you may wish to contact me with additional, more specific questions about your
circumstances, interests, and goals. I would be delighted to provide you any help in making a good
decision about whether or where you might attend law school. My e-mail address is
[email protected]. I will try to respond as quickly as possible. Alternatively, you may wish to call
me at 205-348-7494. You can also visit my website for other articles on legal education at
www.law.ua.edu/bfair . The earlier you contact me during your undergraduate career, the more I can
offer you advice. If this essay is helpful, please share it with others considering legal education.
I have divided this short essay into two parts. In Part One, I describe the ABCs of law
school admissions. In Part Two, I recommend a strategy for choosing the right law school; a few
1
outstanding books on law study and the culture of law school; I also provide a current, state-by-state
list of ABA-approved law schools. In a follow-up essay, Academic Excellence in Law School, also
available on my website, I set forth general advice for law students on study skills, time management,
legal analysis, and exam analysis and writing. After you enroll, I hope you will read those materials
as well and share them with your peers.
Part One-------The ABCs of Law School Admissions
If I were considering a career in law anew, I would do several things differently. Only you
can determine whether you have what it takes to succeed in law. However, you cannot make such
an assessment without full information about what it is that lawyers do. Lawyers perform many
roles, and the more you know about their work, the easier it will be for you to decide if you really
want to undertake the demanding tasks required in law school and in the profession. Therefore, as
you decide if law is for you, I recommend that you ask and answer a few questions.
First, I would ask myself: why a legal career? Why not engineering, teaching, medicine,
business, or some other discipline? Law is a great field for persons who like to read, write, and talk.
However, you should explore all fields of study and determine why law is best for you. To answer
that question, I would research the work and lifestyles of different types of lawyers. Too many
students enter law school without any notion of what lawyers do. During law school they become
disenchanted or bored and some drop out. Some dislike the case method, the exhaustive
examination of court decisions to teach students how to think and write like lawyers. Some are not
prepared for the long hours of study; others are terrified of speaking before an audience. If you
choose law, you should enter the field with your eyes open. The more information you know about
law school, law study, and law practice, the more effective you will be in utilizing your time in law
school.
My image of lawyers was largely shaped by television. I grew up on Westerns, Dragnet,
Adam 12, and Perry Mason. I was fascinated by competing images of the American legal system in
film and television. Unfortunately, those images barely touched the surface of the significant
challenges and rewards of a legal career. There are many lawyers who have written about their work
and what they think it takes to succeed as a lawyer. Most local libraries contain small collections on
law study and careers. Karl Llewelyn’s, The Bramble Bush is one classic, although some readers will
find it inaccessible. Scott Turow’s, One L is another popular read. I prefer the clarity and humor in
Kenney Hegland’s, Introduction to the Study and Practice of Law. A brief review of such materials can
yield fascinating stories about great judges, civil or criminal lawyers, or famous cases in our legal
history. There are many popular books by or about justices on the U.S. Supreme Court and high
profile civil and criminal cases. You can find such books in almost any library or local bookstore.
One of my favorites is A Lawyer’s Journey: The Morris Dees Story, which chronicles the extraordinary
life and legal career of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Morris Dees. Another is Nelle Harper
Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, the compelling international bestseller which introduced Atticus Finch as
the model American lawyer fighting local passion and discrimination in small town America. And
one of the most influential books that I read in high school was Ann Fairbairn’s Fire Smooth Stones, a
2
fictional portrayal about the Civil Rights Movement, North and South, and a young black lawyer’s
journey.
My point is you cannot read too much or too broadly. If I were starting again, I would read
as much as I could about law study, law teachers, teaching methods, legal skills, and the culture of
law school, as well as about lawyers, judges and famous cases, before deciding to apply. If you read
broadly, you will find that there are many skills you must master in law school and many jobs that
lawyers perform in education, business, judicial administration, and politics, to name a few. All that
reading will be time well spent either because it will help you negotiate the challenges of law school,
or it will help you choose a profession more suited to your special interests and talents.
Second, I would ask myself: am I willing to work long hours, reading and writing about legal
issues? A law degree is very marketable, and most lawyers earn a comfortable living. However,
there are some costs associated with the many benefits of a law career. One cost for most lawyers is
a demanding schedule. Lawyers may work many hours each day, including weekends. The work can
be very stressful. Lawyers conduct legal research and write various types of legal documents. Some
spend substantial amounts of time in court or before administrative bodies. You should try to speak
with and/or observe lawyers at work. Perhaps you can work as a legal assistant or clerk, or perhaps
you can visit your local court and attend a trial in a nearby federal court. By going to court, you can
observe lawyers, judges, and part of the legal system in operation. Also, observing judges and
lawyers will help you identify some of the skills necessary for a career in law. Many lawyers and
judges in your community are willing to let you observe what they do. You need only approach
them, and tell them what you are trying to accomplish. You can also contact local bar associations
to learn about events for or sponsored by local attorneys.
The exacting schedule begins the first day of law school, not when you graduate. Some law
teachers suggest that you should expect to spend approximately three to four hours studying for
each hour you spend in class. So, if you are in class fifteen hours per week, you might expect to
spend at least another forty-five to sixty hours per week outside of class, reading, studying, and
learning. Successful students take notes while reading for class and write brief summaries of all the
main cases. Then, they attend class ready to apply what they have read by examining hypothetical
questions and asserting plausible analyses in light of the rationales offered in the cases. Next, they
study their class notes, distilling the key principles from individual cases and constructing links
among all the cases and all the topics covered in each course. Finally, the most successful students
find practice exercises to simulate exam conditions. This practice helps sharpen their analysis and
writing skills, and helps students test how well they can apply the cases and materials they have
worked so hard to learn. When one adds the hours, law school takes on the appearance of a
demanding, full-time job. The rigor of law school prepares you for the demands of law practice.
The essential abilities necessary for a successful career in law include outstanding
independent learning skills, such as reading, writing, and advocacy skills. The law student must be
able to extract meaning from complex legal texts such as casebooks or hornbooks, and to organize
and present legal materials orally and in writing. Therefore, the applicant to law school must
demonstrate the capacity for above average reading, analytical, and writing skills. Law schools use
the LSAT and undergraduate grade point average (“UGPA”) to predict an applicant’s capacity for
law study. Many of these skills are developed through classroom instruction in law school as well as
3
through co-curricular activities, such as student participation on one of the law school's journals or
moot court exercises, which simulate trial and appellate arguments. Most law schools also have liveclient clinics that permit students to gain practical experience with real cases, especially in the second
and third year of law school.
1. APPLYING TO LAW SCHOOL: Getting Started
Once you have read about lawyers, and law study and you have decided that you are still
committed to all the challenges presented by a career in law, you should ask yourself: where can I get
the best information about individual law schools? You need information about how law schools
select among the thousands of applicants each year. The best sources of that information are law
school catalogs or reference books that profile law schools and their admissions criteria. The Law
School Admissions Council (“LSAC”) has an amazing website for prospective law students. You
should become familiar with every resource on the LSAC site.
The LSAC designs the LSAT. It provides a convenient way to register and report your
scores to law schools through the Law School Data Assembly Service (“LSDAS”). The LSAC
provides free practice test information as well as fee waiver guidelines. It sets out links to the
websites of all the ABA-approved law schools in the United States and Canada. The LSAC also
provides research databases for students seeking a law school with certain characteristics. The
LSAC sponsors annual law school admissions fora throughout the country that give prospective
students time to speak with representatives from nearly 150 accredited law schools. Those
representatives know firsthand how admission works at their schools. They know the median
numeric profile of admitted students, the scholarship programs, the curriculum, environment, the
bar passage and employment rates, and other key information. Please visit the LSAC website
regularly at www.lsac.org.
Key Factors in Law School Admissions
Typically, law schools consider many factors when evaluating applications, including:
-
LSAT score
-
Undergraduate GPA
-
Major
-
College attended
-
Grade distribution
-
Improvement in GPA
-
College activities
-
Work experience
-
Graduate or professional training
4
-
Advanced degrees
-
Letters of recommendation
-
Personal Essays/Personal Statement
-
Family background
-
Disadvantages overcome
-
State of residency
-
Community service
-
Diversity factors
Unfortunately, at one time, many law schools in the United States had adopted exclusionary
admissions policies prohibiting the enrollment of some citizens. For example, some schools
excluded all African Americans. Others excluded all women or other ethnic or religious minorities.
Such unfair practices were finally declared unconstitutional, but the effects of those policies are
evident in every aspect of the legal profession.
In response to historic discrimination against some applicants, some law schools began to
use race or gender diversity as one factor in admission. The goal has been to remedy past
discrimination and to promote greater diversity in legal education. For the past ten years, the use of
ethnicity or gender in admission decisions has been under fire as an unconstitutional practice. Some
states have banned the use of race or gender in college admissions. Other states still permit limited
use of race or gender to promote educational diversity consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court
decisions in Bakke and Grutter. To obtain the most accurate information, you should ask each
school about its affirmative action policies.
The two most important factors in law school admission are an applicant's LSAT score and
undergraduate/college GPA. Some schools weight the LSAT greater than half of the total index.
Other schools give most weight to undergraduate grades. To amass the best possible numerical
profile, one must begin preparation for applying to law school as early as possible during one's
undergraduate training. To gain admission to law school, the applicant should compare his/her
numerical profile with the profiles of prior applicants to ensure that the applicant is competitive at a
particular school. I emphasize the numbers here because they are very important at all law schools.
Usually, students with the highest numbers gain admission before students with lower numbers.
They also usually receive key scholarships. Thus, you must do everything you can to achieve the
highest LSAT and UGPA. If your undergraduate GPA is lower than the median at a particular
school, you will usually need a higher LSAT to remain competitive there.
Below I discuss other key factors that may influence law school admission beyond simply
numbers.
A.
Choosing a Major
5
Your area of concentration or major is very important because it can increase your
opportunities after undergraduate school. You may decide that you want to work for a couple of
years. If so, you will need some skills that are marketable coming out of college. You may be
undecided about a career and want to take courses in a variety of subjects until you identify an area
of substantial interest. There is no one major that is best suited for students thinking about a career
in law.
Any major which demands substantial reading and writing, oral advocacy,
negotiation, analytical reasoning, and problem solving is a good pre-law study program.
While history, political science, and English majors still dominate, many law students are entering
with majors in science, engineering, and mathematics. Others are entering with business and/or
accounting training. As long as your major is rigorous academically and you perform well in it, a
major in almost anything, from astronomy to zoology, will be sufficient preparation.
You should select as your major an area which really interests you and in which you are
motivated to work for the highest possible grade point average. It may take you one or two years to
select a major. Even then, you may discover that your choice was wrong. For example, I started
college as an economics major. After five courses and several C grades, I switched to history where
I earned mostly A’s. High grades really help a law school applicant. And, the higher an applicant’s
cumulative GPA, the greater the number of potential law school choices. Law school admissions
personnel believe that a student who consistently earns high grades is a dedicated learner, and will
make the necessary commitment to be successful in law school and in the legal profession. In
addition, many schools will evaluate the quality of an applicant’s undergraduate school and rigor of
the applicant’s course of study when making admissions decisions. Therefore, I recommend that
you go to the best college that you can afford and that you choose a major that has a reputation for
academic rigor.
I also recommend that you take several courses with the same professors. Most law school
applications will encourage or require you to submit letters of recommendation preferably from
professors who have seen and evaluated your academic performance. By taking several classes with
the same professors, and doing well in those classes, you can create a pool of potential references.
You may find that your interest in the subject or motivation to work hard increases because you are
no longer anonymous to those professors.
B.
Co-/Extra-Curricular Activities
Most law school applicants have impressive resumes. They have been student leaders and
participants in a variety of organizations. Large numbers of activities do not, however, excuse low
grades. It is a mistake to think that because you excelled in student leadership your grades are less
important. In fact, most of the applicants you will compete against will have many activities and
high grades.
Whenever possible, try to participate in academic extra-curricular activities like college bowl,
the debate team, pre-law clubs, etc. Also, study abroad programs can be rigorous and expand your
understanding of other countries. Such academic activities will confirm that you are dedicated to
learning and hard work, and that you will likely meet and exceed the challenges of law school. I did
6
not take advantage of all of the opportunities available because I did not think I could afford them.
Be sure to explore all options before you close any door. Try to take advantage of every learning
opportunity.
During college many demands will be made on your time. Many organizations with
important goals will seek your leadership or support. You must resist the urge to participate in every
worthy organization. I chose to be a Big Brother, but otherwise I limited my club time to one or
two groups like the Black Student Association or Student Government. Often, time spent on
activities means sacrificing study time. Your priority in college should be your studies,
especially if you are planning to go on to graduate or professional school. You want to
achieve the highest grades that you can, and you need to prepare rigorously for your standardized
tests for law school.
C.
LSAT Preparation
Nearly all ABA-accredited law schools require applicants to take the LSAT. You might think
of it as the common denominator for all applicants. By requiring the LSAT, law schools can
compare you with thousands of other applicants in terms of reading comprehension, analytical and
logical reasoning, and writing skills. Your LSAT score is used to predict how you will perform in
your first year of law school. Despite criticism of its use, there appears to be no movement to
reduce the use of the LSAT. Therefore, you must accept it as the standard and spend as much time
as you can mastering each component of the test.
The LSAT is a half-day, standardized test. It provides a standard measure of reading and
analysis skills. The test consists of four 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions and one 35minute writing section. Three of the four multiple-choice sections contribute to an individual’s
score. The one nonscored multiple choice section is used to test experimental questions. The 35minute writing test is not scored, but copies are sent to all law schools to which an applicant applies.
The score scale for the LSAT is 120 to 180.
The LSAT is designed to measure skills in reading comprehension, the ability to organize
and process complex information and to draw reasonable inferences based on it, and the ability to
analyze and evaluate the reasoning and arguments of others.
There are three types of questions:
a)
Reading Comprehension
b)
Analytical Reasoning
c)
Logical Reasoning
You must familiarize yourself with each type of question and the test mechanics. You should begin
your preparation as early as possible, even during your first year of college.
7
There are a couple of ways to prepare for the LSAT, including taking a preparation course,
working through a self-study guide, or a combination of the two. I would try every approach until
you identify one that helps you perform well on each type of question.
It is never too early to begin to prepare for standardized tests like the LSAT. That is why
many wealthier, professional families arrange for their children to take standardized tests like the
SAT in the seventh grade, and why those children, after repeated practice testing and coaching,
become “good” test takers. The term “good” in this sense is synonymous with “experienced.” You
need to gain as much experience as possible with each aspect of the test. It may take months of
practice before you are prepared to take the real LSAT. Practice as much as you can before you take
the actual test.
Many African American students are not generally good, experienced test takers. First, many
have less coaching experience and often much less successful practice with standardized tests.
Second, many do not have excellent reading and reasoning skills because they have attended poor
schools throughout their lives. Many do not take full advantage of the available test preparation
classes or books because they have no advisors or anyone who has taken the test to tell them what
to do. Many take the test during times when they are busy with school, work, or other
commitments. The result is that the national average for black students taking the LSAT is
approximately 143. The average of all takers is approximately 152. Because there is a nearly tenpoint gap between the average LSAT scores of black students and the average scores of all students,
there is added pressure on black students who seek to compete for spots in most law schools.
It is imperative that black students take a better approach to LSAT preparation. One should
not take the LSAT until one has taken sufficient time to prepare. One's preparation must be
focused and disciplined. I suggest that you spend a minimum of six to nine uninterrupted months
preparing for the LSAT, preferably during a summer and fall or spring and summer when the impact
on your GPA will not be too great. I recommend that you enroll in a preparation course that meets
regularly for six to eight weeks. The course should expose you to the basic components of the
LSAT. It should provide you with opportunities to learn the directions for each section, to improve
time efficiency, and to improve your multiple-choice test performance. The course instructors will
offer tips or strategies.
Outside of the course, you can perform timed exam simulations and evaluate your
performance on specific sections. For example, if reading comprehension questions are difficult for
you, spend several weeks or months working outside of the course on those types of questions.
Your preparation should include substantial instruction, practice testing, and evaluation. If
you have a choice, it is probably a mistake to work during your preparation. All of your extra time
should be spent in class or performing diagnostic exercises and practice tests. It might take a couple
of months before you notice any improvement in your performance. If possible, treat your
preparation like a full-time job. If not, create a schedule that revolves around your preparation.
Some schools weigh the LSAT and UGPA equally. For most schools, your LSAT score is
probably a little more important than your GPA because it is difficult to evaluate grades from
different schools, and the LSAT is standard for all applicants. You should sacrifice all nonessential
8
activities to obtain the highest score on your first attempt. It is best to take the LSAT only once and
to fully prepare for it the first time. Some black students who take the test without preparation
obtain scores in the 130's. Very few of these students get into law school. Today, students
who score in the high 140s are routinely denied admission. Plan ahead and practice as much as
possible, and prepare in ways that will produce as high a score as possible.
a)
Preparation Courses
Most of the students who take the LSAT each year report that they enroll in a preparation
course such as Stanley Kaplan or Princeton Review. Therefore, you are at a decided disadvantage if
you do not take a course. While courses may cost hundreds of dollars, some companies offer tuition
reductions for students with limited financial resources. Some students might consider taking the
preparation course more than once for even greater practice and reinforcement. Many courses offer
a reduced rate for repeaters. I cannot overstate the importance of your LSAT preparation. Some
schools offer preparation courses through university extension programs as well.
If you cannot afford a preparation course, then purchase a test preparation book and write
to the Law School Admission Council for practice tests. The address is: LSAC/LSAS, Box 2000,
Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940-0998. To speak with a service representative, call 215-968-1001. In
addition to practice books, you can obtain, free of charge, the Law Services Information Book which
contains sample LSAT questions and explanations, a sample test, a sample answer sheet, and answer
key. You can also purchase the official LSAT preparation books that are copies of actual
administered tests. You can probably teach yourself how to take the LSAT exercises and thereby
improve your score. To design your own preparation course requires excellent discipline and
organization. Such self-study should not be attempted half-heartedly. As I wrote earlier, it is a good
idea to visit the LSAC website, www.lsac.org, for more information about the test and the materials
available from the creators of the test.
Today, there is no excuse for taking the LSAT unprepared. Even if you must take a year
or two off after you graduate to create preparation time, you will likely be better off than taking the
exam unprepared.
b)
When Should You Take the LSAT?
The test is administered four times each year during roughly February, June, October, and
December. You should not plan to sit for the test until you have prepared for at least six months or
more, especially if you have a history of low standardized test scores. Therefore, the optimal time to
take the test will vary depending on individual schedules. However, you should take it as early as
possible between the spring of your junior year and the winter of your senior year.
It can take several weeks for the Law School Data Assembly Service to submit your score to
the law schools you designate, therefore you want to take the exam well in advance of any
application deadline. Also, in the event that you need to re-take the exam, if you wait too late to take
it the first time, you can miss the application deadline, and you may have to wait another full year
before you begin law school.
9
c)
General Test-Taking Tips
-
Visit the test site before the actual exam.
-
Get a good night's sleep before the examination.
-
Eat a nutritious breakfast before the examination.
-
Dress comfortably and for variations in room temperature.
-
Memorize the directions for each section before you take the test.
-
Keep track of your time and work as quickly as possible.
-
Work through all of the questions you understand first, then return to more
difficult problems.
d)
Do not leave any questions blank; there is no penalty for guessing.
What is a Good Score?
The answer depends on where you want to go to law school. It may be difficult to gain
admission to the law school of your choice. It will certainly be more difficult to gain admission with
a low LSAT score.
Contrary to what one might hear, even the current special admissions programs at most law
schools desire that black applicants have a LSAT score in the 150-160 range or higher. Most of the
nationally ranked law schools require black students to have a LSAT score in the 155-165 range or
higher. Therefore, your success on the LSAT can dictate the number of law schools to which you
should realistically apply.
If you take the LSAT and score between 145-155, you should probably consider taking the
test a second time. By increasing your score, you improve your admission and scholarship
prospects. Since many schools average all your LSAT scores, it is equally important that you make
the preparation time available well in advance of the second test.
Part Two-------Choosing the Right School for You
For the past several years, law school admissions statistics for black students have been grim
because less than fifty percent (50%) of the black students who applied to law school were admitted.
There are two primary reasons for the low admission rate: low LSAT scores and poor selection of
law schools to which they apply. I have already discussed the LSAT and ways to reverse the
performance on that test.
1. APPLYING TO THE “RIGHT” LAW SCHOOLS
Black students need to make more informed selections of law schools to which they apply.
Apparently, there is little or no guidance or independent research done on application choices.
10
Black students apply to the law schools with national reputations, such as Harvard, Yale, UCLA,
Michigan, Columbia, Penn, Stanford, Berkeley, Texas, NYU, Cornell, Chicago, Duke, Georgetown,
Virginia, to name a few in no particular order. If a black applicant does not have a 160 or higher on
the LSAT and a GPA in the 3.6-3.8 range, most, if not all, of the schools listed above should be
considered longshots.
You should not apply only to schools that are longshots. You should apply to a range of
schools to ensure that you have several choices for law school. For example, when I applied to law
school, I applied to UCLA, Stanford, Berkeley, Davis, Oregon, Washington University at St. Louis,
Ohio State, Howard, and Georgetown. I wanted to attend law school in California, so I applied to
several schools there. But, I applied to Howard and Georgetown because I was willing to live in
Washington, D.C. I applied to Washington at St. Louis because my advisor told me I would
probably gain admission there. I applied to Ohio State because my family is in Columbus, and my
numerical profile exceeded the profile for applicants like myself to that law school. I applied to
Oregon because Derrick Bell was then the Dean. Only UCLA, Stanford, Georgetown, and Berkeley
were longshots for me. According to my research, I had a good chance to gain admission at all the
other schools. I had several choices and selected UCLA.
I write all of the above by way of example and to make the point that you must apply to a
range of schools. You must match and compare your numerical profile with the profiles of other
applicants to the same law school. If your numbers are higher than the median profile, chances are
good for admission. If your numbers are lower than the median profile of other applicants, your
chances for admission are poor. If your numbers are about the same, then your letters of
recommendation, course of study, personal statement, and other factors will likely influence the
result.
Many schools keep track of numeric profiles of entering classes. Most probably will not
report separate numbers for minority students because to do so might be seen as illegal. Thus, black
students must compete against other applicants’ profiles. The best way to find that information is
through the admissions office, or if you attend law day forums, ask the representative.
2. OBTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT LAW SCHOOLS
At last count, there were approximately 200 ABA-approved law schools in the United States
(see attached list). Some states such as California have many accredited law schools; other states
have few ABA-approved schools. In Alabama, there are only three: The University of Alabama
School of Law, Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, and Jones School of Law.
Many of the schools offer application fee waivers to some applicants. Most have catalogs
available by late summer. It is your responsibility to evaluate the pool of law schools and to
determine those to which you should apply. If you do not have time to research law schools before
you graduate, then you should take time off after you graduate. Too often, students rush into
decisions without good information.
There are many people who know about law schools. Some of them work at the law school
on your campus. Some travel around the country to law days at your school. Some attend regional
11
law school information forums sponsored by the Law School Admission Council. Some are pre-law
advisors. In addition, there are many books available at your local libraries on law school, law study,
and law skills. With so many ways to learn about law schools and law study, students who are
motivated or who have good independent learning skills can access and evaluate such information.
After you research the law schools, you must ask evaluative questions about the schools.
For example, it may be important that there are no women on the faculty, or that the student-run
law review competition is based on first-year grades, or that half the minority students do not have
permanent jobs before graduation, or that there are no academic support programs, or that attrition
for black students is several times the rate for nonblack students, or that the bar passage rate for
minority students is extremely poor. By asking such questions, you might determine that some of
the schools on your list are not good for you. No one can ask such questions for you, and no one
has as much at stake.
You should create your own list of top schools based on your numerical profile, your
interests, and your environment preferences. Your list does not have to parallel other national
rankings. I recommend that you identify schools that you would be glad or proud to attend. There
are many schools that do not appear in the national rankings but that are excellent. Also, there are
many administrators and teachers at schools around the country that are dedicated to increasing the
success of minority law students. You must identify such people at the law schools that interest you.
For black students who would prefer to attend a predominantly black law school, Howard
University, Texas Southern, North Carolina Central, Southern, and FAMU should be on your lists.
Howard remains the most prominent predominantly black law school. It has a distinguished
tradition and an ideal location. It also has a diverse, talented faculty. These are all mission schools;
their aim is to train large numbers of under-represented minority students.
You can probably find several law schools in every state that provide excellent legal training.
Those I have listed are only illustrative of my point that you must create your own list.
3. SUBMIT APPLICATIONS EARLY
Most law schools have applications available in August, and the deadline for submitting
applications is early spring (between February and April). For some reason, many black applicants
submit their applications near the deadline. That is a mistake for several reasons. First, the
applications that arrive first are processed first and probably receive the greatest level of review and
evaluation. Second, if your numbers are above the median of other applicants, you will probably
receive early notification. (Many schools begin admitting students in September or October.) In
addition, if there are any problems with your application, they can be corrected well in advance of
the deadline. Also, it takes time for the law schools to process an application. As the deadline draws
near, more applications arrive and admissions staff are overburdened. Therefore, there are several
benefits to applying early and none to applying late.
a.
To expedite your applications you might meet with your recommendation writers to
provide them a chance to become reacquainted with your outstanding qualities.
Provide them a resume and pre-addressed, stamped envelopes so all they have to do
12
is write and mail the recommendation to the law schools. Follow up to ensure letters
are sent in a timely manner.
b.
Follow the procedures outlined in the application for each law school. If you have
questions or problems that you cannot answer, ask for help. Do not harass the
admissions staff. Usually, someone is available to assist you in the admissions office
by email, telephone, or on a drop-in basis.
c.
Spend sufficient time writing your personal statement to ensure that it is interesting,
clear, and void of technical errors. You can write about anything, but you may
benefit yourself by writing about your family background, academic experience, or
reasons for going to law school. Your statement should distinguish you from other
applicants.
4. CHOOSING WHICH LAW SCHOOL TO ATTEND
If you amass a good numerical profile and select which schools to apply to wisely, you
should have several choices. My advice is to attend the “best” law school to which you are admitted
and that you can afford to attend. I use the term “best” to mean the school you would most want to
attend based on your needs and goals. For example, I chose UCLA because it offered the greatest
opportunity for exposure to a diverse student body and a large legal community in a warm
environment and climate. In addition, UCLA was one of the least expensive law schools in the
country, even for a nonresident. You may have different needs, and you should try to articulate
them as you decide where to attend law school.
a.
Curriculum
Some schools are known for special curricular programs, such as Entertainment Law,
International Law, Public Interest Law, or Clinical Education. Most catalogs describe in detail such
unique programs. Some schools are also known for their student journals or law reviews. Still,
other schools are known for on-the-job training programs during law school and job placement after
graduation. Any of the above programs might influence your decision to select one school over
another. You might try to visit some of your choices while they are in session and to meet some of
the students and faculty.
b.
Location
Most law schools offer comprehensive course offerings. Therefore, many students go to law
school in one state but practice in another. It is rare for a law graduate to be limited to one region,
and it is often for reasons other than where the person went to school. For example, my law school
roommate returned to the Midwest, then worked in D.C., and currently practices in New York.
Other friends from UCLA went to Chicago, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, and
Dallas to practice. There may be other reasons to go to law school in the state you plan to practice,
13
such as summer jobs and general networking, but I do not think that you should limit yourself to
one state or region.
c.
Financing Law School
It is your responsibility to develop a plan to finance your legal education. Most law schools
give a few scholarships, and even fewer scholarships that cover a substantial portion of a student's
costs. While you await admissions decisions, you should also complete financial aid applications and
obtain information about other sources of public and private funding. There are state and federal
financial aid programs and many private organizations that provide monies for legal education for
blacks, other minorities, and women. For example, the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund
will award 20 annual $5,000 scholarships to recipients who attend ABA-accredited law schools. You
can find a downloadable application at www.abanet.org/fj. The application deadline is March 1st.
Read your law school catalogs closely, and ask prelaw advisors and admissions counselors
about other possible sources of money. If your numerical profile is high enough, many schools will
eventually offer you some form of financial aid.
1.
State and federal loan programs are probably the best source of funding for law
school. Your legal education is an investment in your future earning potential, so
some debt is worth incurring. However, it is easy to borrow the maximum amount
allowable each year and to amass huge loan balances. Loans are rarely forgiven.
Before you borrow too much, think about how you will be able to pay the loans
back.
2.
The Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) sponsors several annual
Regional Summer Institutes. CLEO participants undergo six weeks of intensive
study of legal method, including legal analysis, research, and writing. Many
participants receive assistance in law school placement. Also, graduates of the
Institutes receive financial stipends when they matriculate to law school.
CLEO is especially designed for students from educationally and economically
disadvantaged backgrounds. You can write to CLEO for information at:
Council on Legal Education Opportunity
740 15th Street, N.W., 7th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 662-8630 or toll free (866) 886-4343
CLEO Scholars.com
3.
Most law schools discourage first-year students from working, and the ABA
prohibits students enrolled at ABA-approved schools from working more than 20
hours during a semester. Again, if you must take time off to save money for law
school, you would probably perform better when you start. Many second- and thirdyear students work part-time. Some work for law firms. Others work on campus as
14
research or teaching assistants. Part-time work during school and summer
employment can help defray some of your law school expenses.
d.
What Should You Do During the Summer Before Law School?
There are many valuable activities that you might undertake before you matriculate to law
school. For example, you might try to travel, or you might work for a law firm. You might attend a
summer law program. Whatever you do, I would recommend that you begin reading as much as you
can about law school and law study. There are so many good books that have been written about
law school and what you can expect from your professors and classmates. Other authors have
written about the legal education process, including how to prepare for law examinations or to
interview for law jobs. Still others have written about their personal approaches to law school.
Hundreds of thousands of people have successfully completed law school, and a good number have
written about their success. You can gain great insights from reading about the experiences of
former law students.
The best book I have read about law study is Introduction to the Study and Practice of Law
by Kenney Hegland (West 1983). Professor Hegland, a former law school dean, writes about the
relationship between what lawyers do and what law students do. He discusses why law students read
appellate cases and how a student can learn lawyering skills by reading cases. He also writes about
the trial process and how lawyers argue and distinguish cases. Part two of the book focuses on law
school skills, including studying, notetaking, case briefing, outlining, legal writing, appellate
advocacy, and writing law school exams. Part three discusses the different experiences of law
students, career choices, and includes an interesting section where lawyers write about their jobs. I
highly recommend Hegland's book. I use it with my students regularly.
Another very interesting book is Slaying the Law School Dragon by George Roth. Roth
offers the new law student his approach to law school. He makes very specific suggestions on what
you should do during the period just before you start law school. For example, he suggests that you
move to your new city or community and learn it. Learn where you will eat, do laundry, entertain,
study, etc. He also suggests that you find the local courthouse. He recommends that you learn your
way around the law library and that you find hornbooks on each first-year subject.
Roth suggests that you can begin to learn principles of law well before you enter your first
class. Roth also provides suggestions for reading and briefing cases and preparing for exams.
There are many other books you might read to prepare for your legal education. Below, I
have listed a few books that I have read that contain useful information about law study, law school,
and law careers. Some of those listed are books on legal reasoning, philosophy, and the structure of
the legal system.
15
SUGGESTED PRE-LAW READINGS
HOW TO MAKE IT THROUGH LAW SCHOOL
Davis, J. P.
THE COMPLETE LAW SCHOOL COMPANION
Deaver, Jeff
BECOMING A LAWYER
Dvorkin, E., Himmelstein, J., and Lesnick, H.
GOING TO LAW SCHOOL
Ehrlich, T., and Hazard, Jr., G.
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF LAW
Hegland, Kenney
LAW SCHOOL ORIENTATION
Makdisi, John
READING SKILLS FOR LAW STUDENTS
Mayfield, Craig
SLAYING THE LAW SCHOOL DRAGON
Roth, George
HOW TO SUCCEED IN LAW SCHOOL
Siegel, Brian
ONE L
Turow, Scott
29 REASONS NOT TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL
Warner, R., and Ihara, T.
I wanted to write this essay to assist prospective students with law school preparation and
the application process. My hope is that one day black students will be admitted to law school in
larger numbers. That will happen when black students prepare better for the LSAT and apply to the
right law schools.
Good luck!
16
e. U.S. LAW SCHOOLS
(ABA Approved) (for updates visit the link to law schools at www.lsac.org.)
ALABAMA
The University of Alabama
Cumberland School of Law of
Samford University
Jones School of Law of Faulkner
University
CONNECTICUT
University of Connecticut
Quinnipiac College
Yale University
DELAWARE
Widener University School of Law
ARIZONA
University of Arizona
Arizona State University
Phoenix School of Law
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
American University-Washington
Catholic University of America
University of the District of Columbia
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Howard University
ARKANSAS
University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
CALIFORNIA
University of California at Berkeley
University of California at Davis
University of California-Hastings
University of California at Los
Angeles
California Western
Chapman
Golden Gate University
Loyola
University of the Pacific
LaVerne
Pepperdine University
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
Santa Clara University
University of Southern California
Southwestern University
Stanford University
Thomas Jefferson
Western State
Whittier College
FLORIDA
University of Florida
Florida A&M University College of
Law
Florida Coastal
Florida State University
University of Miami
Nova Southeastern University
St. Thomas University
Stetson University
FAMU School of Law
Barry
Florida International
Ave Maria School of Law
GEORGIA
Emory University
University of Georgia
Georgia State University
Mercer University
John Marshall, Atlanta
HAWAII
University of Hawaii
COLORADO
University of Colorado
University of Denver
IDAHO
University of Idaho
17
Boston College
Boston University
Harvard University
New England School of Law
Northeastern University
Suffolk University
Western New England College
ILLINOIS
University of Chicago
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago-Kent
DePaul University
University of Illinois
John Marshall
Loyola University
Northern Illinois University
Northwestern University
Southern Illinois University
MICHIGAN
University of Detroit-Mercy
Michigan State-East Lansing
College of Law
University of Michigan
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Wayne State University
INDIANA
Indiana University-Bloomington
Indiana University
Notre Dame Law School
Valparaiso University
MINNESOTA
Hamline University
University of Minnesota
William Mitchell College of Law
St. Thomas
IOWA
Drake University
University of Iowa
MISSISSIPPI
University of Mississippi
Mississippi College School of Law
KANSAS
University of Kansas
Washburn University
MISSOURI
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Saint Louis University
Washington University
KENTUCKY
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville-Brandeis
Northern Kentucky University
LOUISIANA
Louisiana State University
Loyola University-New Orleans
Southern University
Tulane University
MONTANA
University of Montana
NEBRASKA
Creighton University
University of Nebraska
MAINE
University of Maine
NEVADA
Nevada-Las Vegas
MARYLAND
University of Baltimore
University of Maryland
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Franklin Pierce Law Center
MASSACHUSETTS
NEW JERSEY
18
Rutgers-State University-Camden
Rutgers-State University-Newark
Seton Hall University
University of Toledo
OKLAHOMA
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City University
University of Tulsa
NEW MEXICO
University of New Mexico
NEW YORK
Albany Law School
Brooklyn Law School
Cardozo School of Law
Columbia University
Cornell University
Fordham University
Hofstra University
City University of New York-Queens
State University of New York-Buffalo
New York Law School
New York University
Pace University
St. John's University
Syracuse University
Touro College
OREGON
Lewis and Clark Law School
University of Oregon
Willamette University
PENNSYLVANIA
Penn State-Dickinson School of Law
Duquesne University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
Temple University
Villanova University
Widener-Harrisburg
Drexel University Earle Mack
School of Law
PUERTO RICO
Inter-American
Pontifical Catholic
Puerto Rico
NORTH CAROLINA
Campbell University Norman Adrian
Wiggins School of Law
Charlotte School of Law
Duke University
Elon University School of Law
University of North Carolina
North Carolina-Central University
Wake Forest University
RHODE ISLAND
Roger Williams
SOUTH CAROLINA
University of South Carolina
Charleston School of Law
Charlotte School of Law
NORTH DAKOTA
University of North Dakota
SOUTH DAKOTA
University of South Dakota
OHIO
University of Akron
Capital University
Case Western Reserve University
University of Cincinnati
Cleveland State University
University of Dayton
Ohio Northern University
Ohio State University
TENNESSEE
University of Memphis
University of Tennessee
Vanderbilt University
TEXAS
Baylor University
19
University of Houston
St. Mary's University School of Law
Southern Methodist University
South Texas College of Law
University of Texas
Texas Southern University
Texas Tech University
Texas Wesleyan
UTAH
Brigham Young University
University of Utah
VERMONT
Vermont Law School
VIRGINIA
Appalachian School of Law
Judge Advocate General’s School
George Mason University
Regent University
University of Richmond
University of Virginia
Washington and Lee University
College of William and Mary
Liberty University School of Law
WASHINGTON
Gonzaga University
Seattle University School of Law
University of Washington
WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia University
WISCONSIN
Marquette University
University of Wisconsin
WYOMING
University of Wyoming
20